Page 28 of War

Aiden: And you, Daniel Hall, my good boy.

Me: Why am I not your good boy?

Brooks: LOL

Hall: Because you’re a daddy.

Aiden: Heyoooo, didn’t see it going that way, but ya know, now that he says it, can we call you Daddy War?

Me: Fuck you all.

Brooks: Hey, I didn’t say anything.

Me: Fine. Brooks, you’reexempt.

Brooks: How are the kids? All set for Christmas morning?

Me: They’re good. Just waiting for my dad and his family to leave and hoping the social worker doesn’t pick tomorrow to show up and check on us.

Brooks: That a thing?

Me: Yeah, after Josie’s fall, they think I need supervision. Apparently being a single dad without a steady nanny gives them reason to worry.

Brooks: That sucks. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to those kids.

Aiden: You know what you need?

Hall: A hot nanny for me to bang?

Me: Dude, the last nanny around the arena was your sister. Do you really want to talk about who is currently banging her?

Me: Here’s a hint, it’s our coach.

Hall: That was low! Even for you.

Me: Play stupid games…

Aiden: No, he needs a wife.

Brooks: Aiden, you’re an idiot.

Me: Lol, the lawyer suggested the same thing.

Hall: Did you know that mail-order brides are really a thing? There are a ton of hot ones. Check out this contract!

Brooks: I’m out. My fiancée just told me I have to undressher to find my present.

Aiden: Oh, if my wife isn’t wearing candy I can eat off her, this will be a very unmerry Christmas.

Me: Merry Christmas, guys. Thanks for checking in.

As I closeout of our text thread, I swallow a laugh. The last thing I want to do is wake Scarlett. I’m lying beside her in her toddler bed, my body curled around her in a way that’ll make it extra hard to move tomorrow. But it’s the only way I can get her to sleep, and I am in no rush to get downstairs and deal with Xander and Dory again.

Tonight hasn’t been nearly as terrible as I thought it would be. I have my kids to thank for that. They held my focus pretty steadily, making it easier to let Xander’s comments roll off my back.

Their joy, especially Josie’s, was worth any discomfort, and as much as I hate to admit it, Ava is mostly to thank for that.

My little girl really does deserve someone like that in her life. A woman who loves her. Who puts her first. Madi isn’t wrong. A wife would be one hell of a solution. If only I could find someone who would put these kids first. But is that even a possibility? Their mothers won’t even do it. How can I expect another woman to?

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